Jer

I just purchased and installed the instrument cluster lighting upgrade from Mercedessource. It's great! I installed it last night and went for a little drive. What a big difference!

brett

if i am going to do my temp display should i get the light upgrade and do them both at the same time?

pifcat2

Brett,
Always a good thing to kill two birds with one stone...

Jer,
I haven't done mine yet but I have removed the cluster on my parts car. How did you remember where everything (bulbs, wires) goes once you were installing it? Also, has anyone fixed a non-functioning odometer?

Jer

The location of the lamps and wires is pretty simple. All the warning lamps on the right side have numbers on the wires (1, 3, 4, 5, 6). There usually is no 2. All the other connectors only mate with their appropriate partners.

As for the odometer, the plastic gears usually wear out and the numbers stop turning. There's a company that makes replacement gears for VDO speedos at a fraction of the cost of a rebuild or new unit.

pifcat2

Who might that be?
Thanks!

Jer

http://instrument.mbzarticles.org/odogears/

1stmbenz

Anyone

I need help fixing the light on the driver's side that opens and closes the vent. It no longer lights up.

Sp!ke

Easy fix,

Inside the vents you will see four ittle clips. Lift the clips with a small flat head screwdriver (v. gently - clips are fragile) and the vent assemble can be pulled out.

The bulb and holder will then be visible.

brett

hey if i change the lights in my instrument cluster will it make the rest of the lights in the car (window switches, stereo, other buttons etc,) make them brighter also? cause those kinda suck too

dlafever

uh no

brett

ok thanks

pifcat2

brett,
These cars do not have fiber optics where all the illumination shares the same light source. Some stereos have illumination brightenss control but again they have a separate light source. The question is if there are brighter bulbs that can replace the ones at each switch just as the ones available for the instruments. Has anyone researched this?

Jer,
Thanks for the gear source. I actually have a tripmeter problem that this vendor can solve.

Jer

Brighter bulbs are usually a bad idea because the extra heat can deform the plastic parts they illuminate. The new lamps for the instrument cluster are higher wattage, but they burn cooler (according to the vendor, owner of an indie MB shop in WA state).

pifcat2

Jer,
True for filament bulbs but I'll bet there are low temp bright LED's that might work.

brett

hmm..thats too bad. my insturment cluster never seemed too dull really just all of the other lights seemed not bright enough.

bamberger_1

Improving the illumination of the instrument cluster is somewhat complicated. I dont know how (physically) a higher wattage bulb run cooler temperatures??? Higher wattage in the cluster will evantually burn the lens distributing the light evenly across the area of the instrument cluster., and then the light is really dim. Using white/bright LED's does not work out well, w/o changing the whole assembly. The reason therefore is that bulbs and LED's have completly different characteristice of light distribution, and lenses/reflectors dont work anymore. I did "convert" one cluster to LED, but it was a X-mas holiday project, and I think it's not worth is. (too many hours)

brett

i don't know fellas? i think i am going to avoid the light upgrade when i pull my cluster to do the temp gauge only becuase there doesn't seem to be a consensus here as to if it is safe in the long run or not. I am going to do my temp gauge in about a week so if anyone else wants to weigh in on this let me know becuase i am just unsure and i

pifcat2

I think the instrument cluster upgrade is ok since it's been tested, and you have a company supporting this product. I have it but haven't installed it yet.

The other lights are really a preference for brightness or color. They are not real important than instrumentation. I personally don't think the lighting is too dim. There is technology that may not increase wattage but offer a different spectrum or type of light. In any case these alternatives can be found and tested if someone has the desire and motivation.

afg598

Brett,

I changed the stock bulbs (5W) on mine to 8W. Couple of months now so far so good.

brett

i guess i will do it then, nothing to lose really, and the shop owner seems to know his stuff. thanks to all

Jer

I was sold mainly on the fact that the vendor is a Mercedes-tech/shop owner, and he knows his stuff.

ZorroAMG

I had the tech change my cluster bulbs to blue (5W). I had installed my momo airbag-less steering wheel and he pulled the cluster to remove the SRS light that would remain "ON" The blue bulbs look way better but are rather dim, so I am looking to find 8W blue and see what happens...

pifcat2

ZorroAMG,

Did you find out why the SRS light stays on? Mine is on for a couple seconds and then turns off.

I am getting my classic AMG wheel reupholstered. How did you feel about losing the airbag? I am justifying that there's none for the passenger either...

Felix

ZorroAMG

Pfcat: The SRS light stays on because the system i believe is a closed loop. When the Airbag (either passenger or driver) malfunctions, deploys or is disconnected, the system says WTF?? where is the airbag and the light comes on. When you start the car, the SRS light is on cause it checks the system. It shuts off cause all is good.

My car has passenger and driver airbags (its a 1990) and I took out the wheel cause it sucked, for one, for two, I don't know how good a 13.5 yr old first gen airbag is really going to be..usually they seem to cause more harm than good...not true i figure about gen 2 bags...

I am a rather competent, skilled driver, this is my third car WITH bags (1989 300E, and a 1993 grand cherokee) so all previous were without. Cars were built for 90yrs without airbags and if you are a careful driver, you will be fine. (my justification)

I LOVE MY MOMO....pics to follow..

bamberger_1

so I am looking to find 8W blue and see what happens... [/B][/QUOTE]
I can tell you what happens, the clear lensesw of the cluster (distributing the light over the instruments) will melt and will not function as such anymore, and the illumination of the instruments will eventually be worst than before. The lenses cannot be fixed, since they an "integral" part of the cluster housing. The only way to improve the illumination are LED's. But this is a real job of trying out various LED's and positioning of them. I once did it, would never do it, takes too much time.